Testing machine

ABSTRACT

A psychological test taking apparatus having its own source of energy, independent of electrical outlets and the like. A series of questions on a paper roll in the machine sequentially appear in a window large enough for the testee to provide an answer beneath the question. Means is provided for actuation by the testee to open the window and to effect actuation of a timing mechanism. Expiry of a given time period prior to the completion of the answer automatically closes the window and marks the expired time on the paper and there is means responsive to actuation by the testee for closing the window and marking the paper if the answer is completed prior to the expiry of the time.

United States Patent Perrella et al.

[ TESTING MACHINE [72] Inventors: Guido Perrella, Montreal; Robert Genest,

Outremont, Quebec, both of Canada [73] Assignee: Testograph Limited, Lachine, Quebec,

Canada 221 Filed: Mar. 30, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 23,777

[51] ..G09b 19/00 [58] Field of Search ..35/22, 9 B, 35 B; 40/61, 33

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,915,833 12/1959 Genest ..35/22 [451 Mar. 28, 1972 Hvale et a]. ..35/35 B 3,020,653 2/1962 Joslow ..35/35 B 57] ABSTRACT A psychological test taking apparatus having its own source of energy, independent of electrical outlets and the like. A series of questions on a paper roll in the machine sequentially appear in a window large enough for the testee to provide an answer beneath the question. Means is provided for actuation by the testee to open the window and to effect actuation of a timing mechanism. Expiry of a given time period prior to the completion of the answer automatically closes the window and marks the expired time on the paper and there is means responsive to actuation by the testee for closing the window and marking the paper if the answer is completed prior to the expiry of the time.

4 Claims, 17 Drawing Figures Patented March 28, 1972 1 7 Shanta-Sheet 1 Patented March 28, 1972 3,651,55

1'7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented March 28, 1972 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented March 28, 1972 3,651,585

1'? Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented March 28, 1972 17 Sheets-Sheet 5 1 m 6E E 1 8% N v a ENS (m N8 w v NQ I I S m Patented March 28,1972 3,651,585

17 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented March 28, 1972 17 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented March 28, 1972 3,651,585

1'7 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented March 28, 1972 17 Sheets-Sheet 9 Patented March 28, 1972 3,651,585

1'? Sheets-Sheet 1O Patented March 28, 1972 3,651,585

17 Sheets-Sheet 11 Patented March 28, 1972 3,651,585

1'? Sheets-Sheet 14.

248 FIG. I4

Patented March 28, 1972 17 Sheets-Sheet 15 FIG Patented March 23, 1912 3,651,585

1? Sheets-Sheet 16 1? Sheets-Sheet 17 TESTING MACHINE This invention relates to psychological testing apparatus referred to as a Jung testing device. Such apparatus may be of the question-answer, sentence-drawing or other related types.

The invention provides important improvements in the art over earlier devices as exemplified in US. Pat. Nos. 2,715,784 of Aug. 23rd, 1955 and 2,915,833 of Dec. 8th, 1959. These patents dealt with test taking apparatus comprising structures that included prepared questions, and paper for written answers to the same, a window revealing the question andthe paper and a shutter or blind for closingthe window. These devices had several inherent shortcomings however, such as continually moving paper, no means of automatically timing the testee, slowly moving shutters,'and others. These faults resulted in an inability to precisely time the testee during the answer period.

One basic feature of the present invention is to provide a test taking device which will indicate the ability of a testee in answering one or a series of questions at a preselected time for each question. The apparatus in one aspect is automatic in simultaneous and sequential operations but in another aspect the testee does have overriding manual control under certain circumstances especially with respect to the answering period.

Another important feature of the present invention is the provision of an integral energy source or storing mechanism so that the device can be operated without depending on electrical outlets. This is important if a plurality of testing machines are being used, in classroom environment for example.

Another important feature of the invention is to provide a psychological testing apparatus in which means would be provided to automatically mark the responsive answer material, indicating the elapsed time taken by the testee to answer the given question. Other important improvements and features will be made known from the following description.

From the operational standpoint of this invention, the testee is verbally given the time, i.e., number of seconds, allowed for a question or series of questions which will subsequently appear in a window of the apparatus. The allotted answer period is preset on a timing mechanism on the apparatus by a supervisor. When the testee is ready to begin, he operates a main actuating lever which loads the energy store and then actuates a start/overide control which opens a shutter to reveal a question printed on a portion of the writing paper at the top of a writing or window space. Simultaneously, the preset timing mechanism is wound to a counting position as the testee begins to write the answer to the question. If the testee should complete his answer before the time limit which has been preset, he may then manually halt the machine by the start/overide control which simultaneously actuates means to measure the answer period within the preselected time and which marks the time of the answer period on the question sheet. In so doing, the testee also closes the shutter. However, if the testee should fail to complete the answer within the preset time, the shutter will automatically close to terminate the preselected time for the answer, the timing mechanism marking the paper accordingly. In either case, the answer paper is automatically delivered from the apparatus.

The testee may begin another question by again operating the main actuating lever and start/overide control.

According to the present invention therefore a psychological testing apparatus of the question-answer type comprises a casing with a writing window opening therein; a supply ofwriting paper within the casing and which is uni-directionally movable across the window opening of the casing. A shutter member is provided for effectively opening and closing the window thereby to reveal and cover the writing paper and there is means operable by a testee for preselecting the time during which the window remains open and uncovered by the shutter. Additionally, there is means for automatically operating the shutter to close the window at the termination of the preselected time.

The invention will be more readily understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective three-quarter view of the test taking apparatus with its cover in place ready for operation;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the apparatus with the cover removed;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2, showing in elevation the energy store subassembly;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross section of the apparatus with the cover in place and showing the paper guide and relative location of the paper marking device;

FIG. 5 is an elevation view, partly in cross section. of the paper drive sprocket shaft and shutter drive pulleys;

FIG. 6 is a detail plan view of the drive subassembly for the paper drive sprocket shaft with interlock, shown in the lower right corner of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a side elevation of the mechanism in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the shutter and guide therefor;

FIG. 9 illustrates the shutter clutch subassembly and a portionof its actuating means;

FIG. 10 shows an end view'of the shutter clutch and the energy store release mechanism;

FIG. 11 shows the timing mechanism subassembly located at left-central in FIG. 2;

FIG. 12 shows the manual overriding member;

FIG. 13 shows the paper marking mechanism in side view;

FIG. 14 illustratesin plan view the timing mechanism as well as the switching interlock mechanism interconnecting the timing, paper drive and override subassemblies;

FIG. 15 illustrates in plan view the interlock connections only for the subassemblies in FIG. 14; 2

FIG. 16 is a plan view of the marker tape assembly; and

FIG. 17 is an elevational view of the escapement mechanism included in the timing section shown in plan view in FIG. 11.

GENERAL LAY-OUT AND OPERATION, FIGS. 1, 2 AND 4 Referring to FIG. 1, the testing apparatus is generally indicated at 1 and includes a cover or casing 2 having a writing window opening 3 displaying a section of writing paper 4, this section including a typed on question 5 and additional space for the testee to write an answer to that question. A shutter 6 is positioned to cover or uncover the writing window 3 and the paper 4, the initial uncovering being effected by actuation of a start/overide control, hereinafter referred to as the control 10. The covering of the writing paper 4 will be effected automatically if the testee does not answer the question 5 within a prescribed preset time, the indication thereof being provided by a time indicator 8 movably positioned over a scale 9 on the cover 2. However, if the testee should answer the question before the termination of the prescribed preset time, he may depress the control 10 and this will (a) operate the shutter 6 to a closed position, (b) effect marking of the elapsed time for the answer onto the paper and (c) eject the paper, with answer from the apparatus. A main actuating lever 7 is used to load mechanism to power the device. It will be appreciated that the prescribed preset time for answering the question can be seconds or minutes, depending upon the subject being covered.

Referring to FIG. 2 rotary actuation of lever 7, from its illustrated inoperative position, loads a spring-powered energy store subassembly indicated generally at 12 and renders operable a paper drive axis 16 by unlocking an interlock assembly 18. It will be noted that paper drive axis 16 is interconnected to a paper drive sprocket shaft 14 by way of a bead chain 20 and is interconnected to the interlock assembly 18 through a gear mechanism 22, 24. Further a gear train 74-78 and power shaft from the energy store 12 winds the apparatus timing mechanism to a start position, shown generally at 26. FIGS. 9 and 10 show the shutter pulleys and clutches in detail, the shutter being opened by control 10.

The writing paper is drawn from a storage roll 30, FIGS. 2 and 4. The path of travel of the paper is shown in FIG. 4 and illustrates an integral guideway 32 of a pair thereof, one on either side of the cover 2. It will be seen that the paper is drawn downwardly along the bottom of the apparatus to the beginning of the guideways 32 where it is brought around the end of the apparatus remote from the paper roll 30 and then upwardly towards the upper surface of the cover 2 where it passes below the window 3 and then outwardly from the apparatus through a provided slot 34.

ENERGY STORE sheave 48 of a pair thereof mounted on a lay shaft 50. The terminating end of the cable 42 is connected to one end ofa first spring 52 (relaxed position shown), the other end of this spring being removably secured to a stationary hook 54 secured to the base of the apparatus. It will be noted from FIGS. 2 and 3 that sheave 48 is rotated by movement of the cable 42 through its connection to the sheave 48 by way of an anchoring screw 56.

Sheave 48 is interconnected to a second or large sheave 58 (coaxially mounted on shaft 50) by means of a screw 60 anchored in the sheave 48 but being rotationally free within the sheave 58 through the provision of an arcuate slot 62 as shown in FIG. 3. Sheave 58 also anchors one end ofa second cable 64 by means ofa securing screw 66 (FIG. 3), this cable 64 being positioned in a groove 68 of the sheave and terminating in a connection to one end ofa second spring 70, the other end of spring 70 being hooked onto an anchor pin 72 (FIG. 2) secured to the base ofthe apparatus.

In the FIG. 2 position, sheave 58 is locked in position against clockwise movement in FIG. 3 under the tension of spring 70. When lever 7 is rotated cable 42 rotates sheave 48 anticlockwise in FIG. 3 until screw 60 thereon reaches position 61, at the same time winding the timing mechanism 26 through a gear train 74, 76, 78, 80 and gear 296. Actuation of control then unlocks sheave 58, spring 70 rotating it and sheave 48 under control of the timing mechanism 26, as will be described.

PAPER DRIVE AND INTERLOCK SUBASSEMBLY Referring to FIG. 2, it will be noted that the paper drive sprocket shaft assembly indicated generally at 14 is rotated through operation of the axis 16, and timing mechanism 26 which are interconnected by gearing. As shown in FIG. 5, assembly 14 comprises a pair of standards 82, 84 secured at their lower ends to the base of the apparatus. The upper ends of the standards support a pair of concentric inner and outer shafts 86 and 88 respectively, one being free to rotate within the other. The inner shaft 86 supports a pair of shutter drive pulleys 90, 92, and is engageable with the outer shaft 88 through a clutch 94 so that when the paper drive is actuated and the clutch 94 engaged, the shutter 6 will be closed. The outer shaft 88 supports a pair of paper drive sprockets 96 and 98 and these sprockets include circumferential teeth 100 adapted to engage the writing paper 4 slightly laterally beyond the window opening 3 and against the underside ofthe cover 2 of the apparatus so as to draw the paper from the storage roll 30 through the guideways 32 and outwardly through the slot 34 as shown in FIG. 4.

Outer shaft 88 also supports a bead chain sprocket 102 whereby the outer shaft 88 and paper drive sprockets 96 can be rotated by means of the bead chain and paper drive axis 16 as shown in FIG. 2. The bead chain 20 is supported at its other end by a sprocket 104 mounted on the paper drive axis 16 which also supports a first gear 22 interconnecting paper drive axis shaft 16 to the interlock axis 18 and a gear 108 interconnecting the axis 16 to one shaft of the timing mechanism, generally indicated at 26 in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, interlock axis 18 is parallel both to the axis of the timing shaft 26 and the paper drive axis 16 and includes a gear 24 in mesh with gear 22 on axis 16 as well as a pair of spaced discs 112 and 114 respectively. Disc 112 has a projection in the form of a pin 1 16 parallel to the axis 18 and disc 114 is provided with an annular notch 118 as seen clearly in FIG. 7.

A locking gate 120 is pivotally mounted at one end to the base of the apparatus by standard 122 and includes a short reach arrn 124 and a long reach arm 126. Arm 126 is bifurcated to provide a slot 128 and the bifurcated end of the arm 126 is supported by a disc 130 pivotally mounted to the base of the apparatus by post 132. Disc 130 has an upwardly projecting pin 134 which pivots gate 120 to locked or unlocked positions by riding in the slot 128. Short reach arm 124 of the locking gate 120 includes an upwardly projecting pin 136 adapted to be engaged by the pin 116 on the disc 112 during rotation thereof in one direction. Approximately intermediate the length of the long arm 126 the latter is provided with an upwardly projecting lug 138 (FIG. 7) adapted to engage the disc 114 at one end of the annular notch 118 and lock the axis 18 against rotation. The pivotal mounting of the locking gate 120 allows it to be moved to the left (locking) and to the right (unlocking) as shown in FIG. 6, the right-hand position 159 being shown in phantom line. Suitably placed stop members 140 and 142 limit the sideways movement of the gate 120.

Pin 134 of the disc 130 is placed under tension of a spring 144 which is connected at one end to the pin 134 and at the other end to a hook 146. It will be appreciated that if the locking gate 120 is moved to the left, the spring 144 will maintain it in that position against the stop 140 and if it is swung over to the right position 159 shown in phantom line, as it passes over center, the spring 144 will also maintain long reach arm 126 against stop member 142.

The means for unlocking the locking gate 120 (as well as the paper drive axis 16 geared thereto) consists of an actuating lever 148 placed in the path of crank 38 shown in FIG. 2, lever 148 being pivotally mounted to a bracket 150 secured to the base of the apparatus. Bracket 150 also supports an arm 152 which is interconnected to the pivotal end of the locking gate 120 by a rod 154. It will be understood from FIG. 2 as well as FIGS. 6 and 7 that when the main actuating lever 7 is rotated the crank 38 on the other end of lay shaft 36 will contact the actuating lever 148 to shift it to the phantom position 149 of FIG. 7. This moves arm 152 forwardly so that rod 154 is shifted in the direction of arrow 156 and due to its connection with locking gate, 120, it pivots the gate under the influence of spring 144 towards its right-hand phantom position 159 shown in FIG. 6. In doing so, the projecting lug 138 on long reach arm 126 of gate 120 is moved angularly outwardly from disc 114 to unlock axis 18 and paper drive axis 16, now free to be rotated by timing mechanism 126.

The paper 4 is advanced approximately two inches after each question period so that it is delivered from the slot 34, bringing the next question into the area of the window. This advance is equal to one revolution of gear 22 and sprocket 104 on axis 16.

It will be explained later how energy store 12 rotates axis 16 and sprocket 104 but it is to be understood at this point that under certain circumstances, energy store 12 may rotate axis 16 beyond the required one revolution and that axis 16 is so constructed as to allow the energy store to run out" and at the same time prevent overrotation of sprocket 104. Gear 108, FIG. 6, is secured on axis 16 and is rotated by gear 301, FIG. 11, of the timing mechanism 26. Gear 22 and sprocket 104, however, are mounted concentrically on a sleeve 17 which is freely rotatable on axis 16 with rotation of axis 16 being transferred to sprocket 104 and gear 22 by a thrust plate 19 under pressure against one end of sleeve 17 from a spring 

1. A psychological test taking apparatus comprising, in combination; a. a casing having a cover with a writing window in said cover b. a supply of writing paper in said apparatus with plural questions printed thereon sequentially and areas for answering each of said questions by a testee; c. a shutter for opening and closing said window d. paper engaging and drive means for intermittently moving said writing paper across the window so as to expose a question and a respective answering area; e. means associated with said shutter for preselecting the maximum length of time for an answer period in which the window remains open; f. Means operable by the testee for opening said window by moving said shutter to initiate an answer period, operable by the testee only within said maximum preselected length of time for closing said window, further operable means for moving said shutter to voluntarily terminate the respective answer period, and additional operable mean associated with said preselecting means to automatically terminate the respective answer period upon exiration of said maximum preselected length of time; g. a timing mechanism associated with said shutter for measuring the actually elapsed time between opening and closing of said shutter, for each answer period; h. means associated with said timing mechanism for automatically imprinting the actual duration of the respective answer period onto said paper upon termination of the respective answer period whether voluntarily actuated or automatically controlled; i. a source of energy in said apparatus for (i) actuating said paper engaging and drive means; (ii) opening and automatically closing the shutter and (iii) operating said timing mechanism.
 2. A test taking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said shutter comprises guide means positioned on the underside of said casing; a membrane tensioned between said guide means; pulleys and cables retaining said membrane therebetween, said cables running in said guides; a torsion spring connected to said pulleys for urging said shutter to a window opening position; and drive means for closing said shutter.
 3. A test taking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said paper engaging and drive means comprises a drive shaft disposed normal to the path of travel of said paper; sprockets on the drive shaft for engaging said paper and a clutch interconnecting said paper drive shaft with the shutter operating means thereby to advance said paper when the shutter is closed.
 4. A test taking apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the source of energy comprises spring means; a crank handle for loading said spring; a paper drive axis connected to said paper drive means a timing axis geared to said spring means and the paper drive axis; and an escapement mechanism on said timing axis for controlling release of the loading spring means; releasing thereof effecting rotating of the timing axis and the paper drive axis to advance said paper. 